sussexpob wrote:A lot of these Windies players avoided bowling to some of the recognised most gifted players in the world (Graham Pollock, Barry Richards, etc) because of South Africa's exclusion. I am sure that makes their record look a lot better.
Another example, just that indicates and illustrates my point. Check the bowling averages of the Windies players on the few times that they went to New Zealand
Holding..... 7 wickets in 4 games @ 48
Marshall.. 9 wickets in 3 games @ 32
Roberts...3 wickets in 2 games @ 65
Garner was the only one who did well there. Put in unfamiliar circumstances more, would their records look as good? The least toured nation they went to brought the worst out of most, on pitches that have often favoured bowling a lot more, and against weak batting line ups.
It makes a huge difference, which is why Steyns record looks so brilliant.
But the lbw was outlawed for touring sides.